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Over 150 rescued from Kampala streets during citywide operation

By
Our Reporter
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Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) conducted a city wide operation to rescue loitering children from the streets. The operation was carried out by the KCCA law enforcement team and the Uganda Police on Wednesday, January 25, where over 150 children were rescued.

The children were picked from various parts of Kampala at street junctions in the Central business district. They were taken to Kobulin Youth Rehabilitation and Skilling center in Napak district for rehabilitation.

During the operation a total of 13 suspected child traffickers were also arrested during the operation. In accordance with the law, the suspects will be taken to court for contravening the Child Protection Ordinance 2022.

Section 10 of the Ordinance prohibits any person from sending a child to beg or solicit for alms in a public place, street, office, or any business or commercial establishment and also to live off the proceed of a child engaged in begging or soliciting for alms.

The ordinance provides that a person who contravenes these provisions commits an offense and is liable upon conviction to a fine not exceeding 40,000 shillings or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.

The 166 children rescued from the street on January 25, have been transported to Kublin Youth Skilling Centre in Nepak. They will undergo rehabilitation, tracing and reintegration with their families.

In 2022, KCCA carried out a similar operation in which 700 children were rescued from the streets and 36 child traffickers convicted.

The children rescued in August 2022 were taken to Masulita Children’s home where they can live a childhood free from exploitation and abuse but also be rehabilitated. These children are now well looked after and are in school.

Speaking about the operation, the Executive Director Dorothy Kisaka said “We have received good reports of the children in Masulita. The children are healthy, they are being trained and rehabilitated. We are grateful to UWESO for providing the facility and the resources for this work,”

She added,”We have made progress with the street children, but there is a lot more to be done. It’s steady progress!”

According to John Bosco Bashinyora, the Head of Gender Directorate at KCCA, the operation was supported by three local NGOs working under the Local Coalition Accelerator initiative.

The support included fuel equivalent to 720 litres for the bus, coaster, and pickup; meals for the children while in transit and facilitation for the rescue team. strong advocate of children’s protection and the rescue of children from abuse is always close to heart.

KCCA will be carrying out more operations to bring to rescue the children from street life and also prosecute all those involved in trafficking and abusing children.

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UNEB to release PLE results tomorrow

By
Simon Kabayo
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The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) has confirmed the release of last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results to be tomorrow Friday January 27, 2023 at State House Nakasero.

The revelation followed the UNEB officials briefing the Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, and other top officials on Wednesday afternoon about the performance of learners ahead of the release date. This will be the first 2022 examination to be released by UNEB.

The Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) will follow.

The State Minister for Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, apologised for the delay saying UNEB officials had earlier met with the education minister and explained.

“It was necessary to brief the minister first before the results are released,” she said, adding, “we apologize for the delay but the release will be out on Friday.”

The results were reportedly supposed to be released last week but were postponed because the education minister had other engagements.

A total of 832,810 candidates sat for the Primary Leaving Examination last year on November 8 and 9. This was in 14,153 examination centres across the country.

Out of the total number of candidates, 583,769 were funded by the Universal Primary Education (UPE), and only 249,041 were non-UPE.

51.9% of the total candidates were females while 48.1% were male.

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Museveni meets newly appointed judicial officers

By
Our Reporter
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President Yoweri Museveni has met and congratulated the newly appointed Justices of the Supreme Court and the Court of appeal at a ceremony that took place at State House Entebbe.

The three new Justices of the Supreme Court include Lady Justice Elizabeth Musoke, Justice Stephen Musota, Justice Madrama Christopher Martin Izama and one Justice of the Court of appeal Justice Eva Luswata Lubwama who had earlier taken their oaths and were today only introduced to President Museveni.

Justice Oscar John Kihika  of the court of appeal was sworn-in  at the same ceremony presided over by the Principal Judge Sarah Langa Siu.

The President congratulated the newly appointed Judges and commended the Chief Justice Hon. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo for improving the performance of the Judiciary.

“I really congratulate the new Judges and I want to thank the Chief Justice for the passion he has put in making the judiciary effective,” he said.

President Museveni took the judges through the economic history of the country pointing out that the economy had virtually collapsed. He said the British had left behind what they dubbed at the University as an enclave economy of 3 Cs (Coffee, Copper and Cotton and 3 Ts (Tobacco, Tea and Tourism). 

He added that when NRM came to power in 1986 the government aimed at reversing the whole process and concentrated on 4 principal areas that were minimum recovery, expansion of the economy, its diversification and promoting qualitative economy based on knowledge like the innovation of electric mobility.

He stressed that diagnostical analysis of society is always done by the political leadership that include the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary who act as medical Doctors observing that if the diagnosis is wrongly done the economy will collapse but if done correctly the economy will flourish.

On some of the concerns raised by the judicial officers especially those bearing some financial implications in the judiciary, President Museveni pledged to convene a meeting of all the arms of government to collectively agree on how to pave the way forward for further improvement of their performance. 

The Hon. Chief Justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo thanked President Museveni for his unwavering support that has changed the performance of the Judiciary for the better.

“With the enhanced budget we have been able to double the number of judicial officers,” he said.
He added that high court circuits were created in Moroto, Tororo, Iganga, Bulemezi, Rukungiri and in Hoima.

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Hon. Norbert Mao thanked President Museveni for his support to the Judiciary noting that services have tremendously improved.

“We have received unprecedented support from you personally, the Executive and Parliament as manifested in the improved terms of service and improved infrastructural development,” he noted.

He also observed that enhanced budget manifests that there will be less dependence on donors. The Justice Minister announced that the new structure of the judiciary is in the offing to ensure that Judges appointed have the necessary support.

He however was very grateful for the support given to his Ministry since assuming office.

“In the 4 months I have been in office I have noted with relief and pleasure that there is very little friction between the Judiciary and other branches of the Government. The Tenure of Judges and the terms specified. We feel that there is greater respect for Judges he said.

The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Chief Justice Hon. Justice Richard Buteera, the Principal Judge Dr. Justice Flavian Zeija, the Chairman of the Judicial Service Commission Justice Benjamin Kabito and the Deputy Head of Public Service Mrs. Dora Katuramu.

Others included the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs Mr. Pius Bigirimana and the Judicial Fraternity among others.

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Parliament to investigate Shs588 billion tax exemptions

By
Our Reporter
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Parliament

Butambala County Legislator Muwanga Kivumbi was unamused by the majority report, and noted that government could be losing well up to Shs8 trillion in tax exemptions, which he said makes no sense in light of budgeting constraints occasioned by pressures on the national resource envelope.

“We have almost Shs8 trillion in tax exemptions; we have just highlighted a few; others are getting corporation tax holidays, which are taxes on profits…they come here, they get free electricity and land, and then they do not pay tax,” he said.

The shadow minister listed some entities against the proposed exemptions they are to get, which totaled to Shs588 billion, a figure he said should be collected to finance the budget.

“If we can recover only Shs4 trillion from the tax exemptions, we can balance our budget and implement it; it is about time we launched an inquiry into tax exemptions in Uganda,” said MP Muwanga Kivumbi.

On account of this, Deputy Speaker Tayebwa said since there is a committee established by Parliament to look into the tax exemptions for Bujagali Hydropower Project, the same committee can look into all exemptions.

“We have a committee to look into the tax exemptions of Bujagali; we should not go into the budget cycle without the report; if you have done a good job, we shall give you the other entities to also look at expeditiously in two weeks,” said Tayebwa.

Go slow on ambitious budget

The majority committee report called for a go-slow on the nearly Shs50 trillion projected budget for Financial Year 2023/24.

In its report on the National Budget Framework Paper presented, committee deputy chairperson, Hon. Ignatius Wamakuyu Mudimi, said the resource envelope may not be sufficient to cover planned expenditures.

“…it will be necessary to put planning and budgeting on a more fiscally realistic path due to the current global economic challenges,” said Hon. Wamakuyu Mudimi.

Whereas the committee noted a projected Shs1.8 trillion increase in domestic revenue mobilisation efforts, it worries that a big chunk of the budget will go to debt and statutory payments, further leaving near to nothing for actual development work.

Of the Shs49.9 trillion that will be on the table for distribution, already 64.1 per cent of that is likely to be channeled to debt and recurrent expenditure, leaving only 35.9 per cent for development expenditure, which has the potential of positively impacting economic growth.

“The proposed resource prioritisation is very worrying and could indicate that our fiscal operations may not be sustainable in the long run as debt-related payments continue to take the lion’s share of the budget,” he said.

Even then, noted the committee, the biggest chunk of the development budget goes into infrastructure, which the committee said may not be very sustainable in alleviating rising poverty and unemployment.

The focus, said the committee deputy chairperson, should be evenly put on both human capital development initiatives to improve the quality of life.

“The committee recommends that there is need to strike a balance between and human capital development as well as re-engage development partners especially under the programme of human capital development; investments in social sectors especially health, education and social protection have a direct impact on poverty and income inequality,” he said.

Substantive debate on the matter is slated for Tuesday, 31 January 2023.

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The ICC obnoxious warrants of arrest, bungled investigations, peace in Darfur and Sudan’s sanctions

By
Guest Writer
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UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres

By Dr. David Nyekorach-Mazi Matsanga

Dear Secretary General,

Peace Greetings

1.  Mr. Secretary General, the ICC Chief Prosecutor AA Karim Khan presented his report to UNSC today 25th January 202. This is a routine report to the UNSC about the situation in DARFUR and SUDAN in general. Sudan is currently walking on a tight rope and at the edge of a precipice on matters concerning ICC and its involvement in the Darfur victims’ justice and reconciliation matters.

2.   Mr. Secretary General, I want to state from the onset that I respect International Jurisdiction that gives justice to all not selected Justice. The manner in which ICC investigated most AFRICAN situations leaves a lot to be desired and must BE INVESTIGATED THROUGH A PUBLIC INQUIRY  .

3.  Mr. Secretary General,  all African cases before the ICC Chambers from the first one in my country Uganda up to the current pending ones were BUNGLED BY INVESTIGATORS and THE EVIDENCE FAKED by the former Chief Prosecutors LUIS MORENO OCAMPO , and FATOU BENSOUNDA . They acted on behalf of INTERNATIONAL TAXPAYERS and are supposed to be ANSWERED to the world.

4.  Mr. Secretary General the cases of  Libya , Sudan , Kenya , Ivory Coast , Democratic Republic of Congo, Central Africa Republic , Burundi , and other situations in Africa had a similar PATTERN OF DECEIT and WITNESS PROCUREMENT by the previous OTP Chief Prosecutors and the world cannot seek Justice while forgetting INJUSTICES  committed against individuals and countries based on DECEIT of the  former Chief Prosecutors at the OTP. 

5.   Mr. Secretary General truth be told, the two previous Chief Prosecutors of ICC destroyed the image of the ICC in front the international community . The first Chief Prosecutor  was corrupt , a money launderer ,addicted gambler , who gambled away over $17million dollars that was  being managed by his Personal Assistant who later on bribed her way to the Apex of the ALTAR  of International Justice.

6.   Mr. Secretary General I have attached evidence how I struggled to bring to the notice of the TYPE OF MAFIA OPERATIONS that surrounded all African cases.

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 “I refer you to my Public Redacted Version – Prosecution’s comments on the “CONFIDENTIAL APPLICATION WITH CONFIDENTIAL ANNEXES OF DR. DAVID NYEKORACH- MATSANGA FOR THE DISQUALIFICATION OF THE PROSECUTOR PURSUANT TO ARTICLE 42(8) OF THE STATUTE”

ICC-01/09-90-Red -13 September 2012 | Office of the Prosecutor”

——————————————————————

7.   Mr Secretary General the  second Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda just made matters worse at the OTP by further taking on cases that were BUNGLED and with faked  evidence , coverups and total abuse of office . The amount of Injustices done by the OTP top officials  have never been put under a PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION OF INQUIRY to ascertain the TRUTH about the allegations . 

8.   Mr. Secretary General from the above it would be UNFAIR to those wrongly accused like the case of Sudan DARFUR Situation where WITNESSES were PROCURED , AIRLIFTED , & Given INCENTIVES to LIE against General Bashir and others in the cases before ICC which the new Chief Prosecutor Mr. A A . KARIM KHAN has just briefed the UNSC on the same .

 9.   Mr. Secretary General the ICC SUSPECTS in all AFRICAN CASES have suffered SIMILAR  FATES and have had  no recourse to international mechanism of RESTITUTION. The Sudan DARFUR ICC investigations were a complete SHAM. They involved bribery of the witnesses and the investigators from the OTP were compromised. It is sad that most supporters of the court are adamant that justice must take its course.

10.   Mr. Secretary General over 70 years Hitler killed millions and up to date we still prosecute the Nazi Criminals and seek justice.  Why have we covered UP the BAD ACTS of both ICC OTP namely LUIS MORENO OCAMPO & FATOU BENSOUDA who violated ARTICLE 70 without REPRIMAND.

11.   Mr. Secretary General there are a number of reasons for the IMMEDIATE DIRECT EMPLOYERS of ICC OTP to be cautious and concerned about the effect the ICC Africa’s bungled and doctored cases . The EFFECTS of these cases have DESTROYED THE IMAGE of the ICC in The Hague with diverstating consequences on the MERITS to handle and proceed with the DARFUR situation which could affect the   national sovereignty and political situation in Sudan.

12.   Mr. Secretary General, it is my greatest belief that ICC is an intruder whose presence should not be-allowed or welcomed in Africa in the FORMAT I have mentioned above. To me, it is INJUSTICE to continue PERSECUTING and DISMEMBERING SUDAN without an INDEPENDENT PUBLIC  INQUIRY into the serious FLAWS committed by the FORMER PROSECUTORS.

13.  Mr. Secretary General, the ICC is tagged as   a neocolonial Kangaroo court only keen to target, prosecute, and persecute Africans. I must hasten to add that I have not said PEOPLE did not DIE, NO, people died but the WAY the cases were INVESTIGATED was wrong.  Looking at the ICC data base, one finds 90% of the ICC cases are coming from African continent.

14.   Mr. Secretary General there are hard questions that need answers and the international community need to know .Why has the UNSC not ORDERED for investigation into Iraq where the former Prime Minister Tony Blair  and General Colin Powell & FAKED DOSSIERS and killed millions?

15.   Mr. Secretary General, the ICC case of Sudan has the most basic principles of international law where cannot be bound by a treaty to which it is not a party. Further, the long-standing international legal norms hold that a state cannot be bound to legal assertions that it has specifically rejected. Why is U.S.A. and France pushing forward for Bashir’s blood yet they cannot accuse Bush or  Sarkozy for their Crimes .

16.   Mr. Secretary General , seeking to impose international legal requirements and jurisdiction on unwilling sovereign states is unsupportable, and a clear contravention of the same international law. It also has significant implications for states that are unable or unwilling to ratify the Rome Statue establishing the ICC.U.S.A. , Russia, China, India .

17.  Mr. Secretary General the Sudanese leadership have asked for sanctions to be removed and now instead of the removal of these sanctions America and other Permanent UNSC members are using the ICC as like in the stick and carrot politics.  Most of the countries have bolted out of ICC?

18.  Mr. Secretary General,  the  most principal and most likely only reason America pursued Article 98 agreements was out of concern that the ICC could be used as a tool by those opposed to its foreign policy to make political statements through ICC prosecutions. Why then pressure the Sudan to follow the ICC route when U.S.A. the biggest violator of same crimes else is not brought book? 

19.  Mr .Secretary General,supporters of the ICC and those who live in denial disparage some of us and  want General Bashir to be handed over to the ICC in The Hague . This is unnecessary. I want to state here  that the fact of the matter is that ICC is a fire breathing dragon that could further disintegrate Sudan.

TRUTH & FACTS

20. Mr.  Secretary General, one of the objectives of  ICC was  to protect and keep peace in the world . But the organization has been abused by unscrupulous countries like USA that have failed to Ratify the 1998 Rome Treaty under Article 98 of ICC Statute. Most of the  ICC cases from Africa were and are politically motivated by countries that cannot be indicted by ICC .

22.   Mr. Secretary General they USA has used ICC to settle old scores, no doubt this is already evident in Sudan. The USA is behind the current malaise that has destroyed Sudan . Peace has grown in DARFUR and Sudanese are living together as Sudanese . The AU Mbeki Mediation Team worked hard and restored a REDEMPTION STRATEGY in Sudan . Why then do we USE  UN MSC to have further sanctions on Sudan?

23.   Mr.Secretary General, a nother issue I would like to raise with the UNSC through the YOU is the ICC’s relative lack of checks and balances to prevent the OTP from being misused in future .The ICC represents a dangerous temptation for those with evil political axes to grind on African states like Sudan.

24.  If the UN Secretary General is in doubt and  is too blind to see this, let UN look at the question of Israel. Despite the fact that Israel is not a party to the Rome Statute, the ICC prosecutor AA KARIM KHAN  is reportedly exploring ways to prosecute Israeli commanders for alleged war crimes committed during the recent actions in Gaza. But the same UNSC is divided on the Israel question . Why then push for Sudan case?

25. Mr.Secretary General the current situation in Sudan raises other side issues why the Military took power . It’s a CAN of worms that precipitates a crisis that should  be left solely to the people of Sudan and its governance  to solve. The ICC should cut its journey short in Sudan .

26.  Mr.Secretary General , fake indictment against Omar al-Bashir for his alleged involvement in crimes committed in Darfur aggravated the situation in Sudan and could today again lead to the disintegration of  the country like Somalia . The new Chief Prosecutor of ICC took over FAKE case of Sudan which already carry the burden of Darfur atrocities . This burden can’t rest only on the shoulders of one individual -Bashir . There’s an African adage that goes, ” He who will hold another down in the mud  must stay in the mud to keep him down.”

27.  Mr.Secretary General the renewed powers to ICC through the UNSC goes on against Sudan and against the will of the Government which I raised above as FAKED EVIDENCE . These could  destabilizes Sudan, it could also rekindle the conflict that could sink the already fragile country into further bloodshed. The  daily demonstration could get fuel from the ICC new powers to engage in the ICC cases of DARFUR .

29.  These dangers are real and not imaginary, they will spur most African countries near Sudan , which would bear the most immediate consequences of a more chaotic Sudan. Chapter VII Article 39,40 will be threatened by the same UNSC that should safeguard it .

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Mr. Secretary General , it is my clarion call on the UN Security Council to quash the indictment and leave the matter in the hands of Sudan Courts and  defer the al-Bashir prosecution for the sake of Peace in the region.

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30.  Mr. Secretary General Sudan should not be used as an experiment of U.S.A. disgraced Foreign policy . It is interesting to see major countries like USA ,China, India, and Russia not members of ICC but they wielded  huge powers and say during the Sudan indictment .

31.   Mr.Secretary General most of these countries that voted to indict Bashir  have refused to ratify the Rome Statute out of concern that it unduly infringes on their foreign, and security policy decisions issues, rightly reserved to sovereign governments.

32.  As I rest my case, my questions to the leadership of UNSC are many but I will stick to one important one . What is more important for the world order? PEACE in DARFUR and the whole Sudan or Chaos? 

33.   Mr. Secretary General why  Chapter VII is going to be violated by the same UNSC through the actions of ICC Chief Prosecutor by destabilizing the  Sudan?  Why should the authorities in Khartoum handover GENERAL BASHIR TO STAND A FAKED TRIAL , CORRUPTED THROUGH PROCURED WITNESSES , WITH FLAWED  INVESTIGATION OF DARFUR ?  :

34.  CHAPTER VII: Action with Respect to Threats to the Peace, Breaches of the Peace, and Acts of Aggression (Articles 39-51) The ICC ACTIONS IN SUDAN DARFUR COULD TRIGGER A NEW THREAT OF WAR IN SAHEL REGION .

35.  Mr.Secretary General I end my letter by submitting that the only CURE & MEDICINE LEFT AT UN DISPOSAL INTO THE FLAWED ICC INVESTIGATIONS in African cases is TO SET UP an INDEPENDENT INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION IF INQUIRY INTO THE CONDUCT OF THE PAST ICC OTP CONDUCT AND ABUSE PLUS MISUSE OF ICC OTP OFFICE BY USA & FRANCE for INTERNATIONAL POLITICAL EXPEDIENCY.

36.   Mr. Secretary General are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who can’t see the hand of U.S.A. and France in the SERIOUS CONFLICTS in the Sahel region of Africa  ? Smell the coffee and wake up! If other Africans are SILENT I will not be silent while our continent is kept in HEADLINES for wrong reasons .

Thanks

God bless Africa & United Nation

Dr. David Nyekorach -Mazi Matsanga

Founder & Chairman

Pan African Forum (UK) Ltd

London United Kingdom

25.01.2023

CC

1. To all UNSC  Members .

2.The Foreign&Commonwealth office UK 

3.The Presidency of Sudan

4. AU Chairperson Dr.Mahat Faki

5. All AU Member states

6. EAC Secretary General

7. IGAD Secretariat

8. SADC Secretariat

9. ECOWAS Secretariat

 10. OTP ICC Chief Prosecutor

11. Prof.David Hoile United Kingdom

12. Chief Charles TAKU (My international Lawyer )

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NSSF collects Shs121 billion in January 2023

By
Simon Kabayo
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Mr Patrick Ayota, Deputy Managing  Director, NSSF

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) has collected Shs121 billion for the period of January 1 to 24, 2023 compared to the same period last year where Shs94 billion was collected – translating to a 24 per cent increment.

Mr Patrick Ayota, NSSF’s Deputy Managing Director, revealed this during a press briefing on Wednesday morning while updating members and the general public on the state of the Fund as of December 31, 2022.

The Fund was worth Shs17.88 trillion as of December 31, 2022, with 78% invested in fixed income, 15% in equities and 7% in real estate.

Ayota said the Fund’s portfolio mix is informed by three key factors namely; the long-term funding needs, the need for diversification, and the reduction of market risk.

Contributions have increased by 22% from Shs643 billion in December 2021 to Shs786 in December 2022 against this financial year target of Shs1,630 billion.

In terms of investments, Ayota said the realized income was Shs1.054 trillion, adding that the budget they had for that was about Shs900 billion meaning the Fund got about Shs100 billion more in realized income.

Benefits paid to qualifying members increased by 96% to Shs712 billion in December 2022 from Shs364 billion over the same period last Financial Year.

“For Assets Under Management, we started the year with Shs17.65 trillion and ended at Shs17.88 trillion as of the end of December. Between July and December, there has been Shs600 billion growth in the Fund’s asset base,” he added.

The Amendment Bill assented to by President Museveni has had a positive effect in terms of new recruitment of members to the Fund. 2,078 employers have been registered over the last six months. This is an increase of about 113% compared to the same period last Financial Year.

“67,277 employees have been registered over the last six months. This is an increase of about 32.5% compared to the same period last Financial Year when the Fund registered only 50,762 employees,” Ayota confirmed.

For the rest of the year, Ayota expects to hit the targets of Shs1,630 billion in contributions, Shs1,947 billion in realized income, Shs1,278 billion in benefits and Shs18,988 trillion for the fund’s asset base.

“The Amendment act gave the Fund two mandates; to expand social security coverage and ensure compliance. To fulfill this mandate, the Fund has developed a plan that revolves around two pillars which are creating the capacity of Ugandans to save and creating a willingness by Ugandans to save,” Ayota said.

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Carrefour to reward customers with free shopping worth Shs150m as they celebrate third anniversary

By
Bosco Agaba
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  • Carrefour celebrates 3 years in Uganda with many rewards for their customers
  • Randomly chosen lucky customers will have their shopping trolleys paid for by retailer
  • 1,000 free trolleys to be given away worth UGX130 million in total
  • Free points worth UGX 20,000,000 in total to be won by loyal customers
  • Carrefour has a total of 7 stores in Uganda

Kampala January 25, 2023 – Ugandan shoppers are set to win free shopping and enjoy massive daily discounts as Carrefour celebrates three years in Uganda from 25th January, until 12th February 2023.

To mark the occasion and growth, the retailer will check out 1,000 shopping trolleys free of charge and reward MAF MyClub App members with loyalty points every day during the celebration. A total of UGX150 million worth of rewards is available for lucky winners.

Carrefour has also announced an array of discounts of up to 50 per cent across multiple categories including groceries, fresh food, electronics, appliances, and homeware.

Shopping carts will be chosen at random every day over the course of 19 days, with no limit on the winning trolleys.

“For three years, Carrefour has played an active role in Uganda’s ever-evolving communities, and we look forward to contributing and serving our customers for more years,” said Franck Moreau, Regional Director of Carrefour East Africa at Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

“Our mission is to uplift the communities around us, hence the importance of connecting with our customers individually by offering unique surprises and offers to suit them. By paying for 1,000 customers’ shopping every day, we are spreading joy as we celebrate our 3rd anniversary in Uganda, and creating great moments for all shoppers, every day, throughout this celebratory month.”

Majid Al Futtaim launched its first Carrefour store in Uganda in December 2019 at Kampala’s Oasis Mall, and in March 2021 opened its second store in Naalya at Metroplex Mall. Five additional stores at Lugogo, Victoria, Acacia, Village Mall and Arena Malls were opened between October 2021 and January 2022.

Majid Al Futtaim currently provides 20,000 products across its stores, of which 98% are locally sourced.  Customers are also able to order products online through partnerships with Glovo and Jumia Food.

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A decade of progress is under threat as overall African governance flatlines, the 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance finds

By
Our Reporter
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Mo Ibrahim

The 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG), launched today by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, highlights that African governance has flatlined since 2019, reflecting a series of disruptions caused by a combination of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased insecurity, and widespread democratic backsliding, posing a serious threat to several years of progress on the continent.

Commenting on the data, Mo Ibrahim, Founder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, said: “The 2022 Ibrahim Index of African Governance highlights that African governance has flatlined since 2019. Unless we quickly address this concerning trend, the years of progress we have witnessed could be lost, and Africa unable to reach in due time the SDGs or Agenda 2063.

“Our continent is uniquely exposed to the converging impacts of climate change, more recently Covid-19, and now the indirect impact of Russia-Ukraine war.  Governments must address all at once ongoing lack of prospects for our growing youth, worsening food insecurity, lack of access to energy for almost half the continent’s population, heavier debt burden, growing domestic unrest. Coups are back, and democratic backsliding spreading.

“These are challenging times. More than ever, commitment to strengthen governance must be renewed, unless we lose all progress achieved.”

The 2022 IIAG results show that even though the average continental level of Overall Governance is better in 2021 than in 2012 (+1.1), progress has flatlined since 2019.

Driving this stagnation is the deterioration of both the Security & Rule of Law and Participation, Rights & Inclusion index categories, due to an increase in armed conflicts, violence against civilians, and democratic backsliding across growing parts of the continent.

Although the IIAG confirms that these concerning trends predate the pandemic, it highlights that the introduction of restrictive measures and emergency provisions to address COVID-19 and its fallout have exacerbated existing challenges by accelerating a decline in democratic practices, clamping down on dissent, shrinking the civic space, and avoiding democratic scrutiny.

The IIAG’s other two categories– Human Development and Foundations for Economic Opportunity – do offer cause for cautious optimism, as both have progressed over 2012-2021. This is particularly the case for Human Development, which has improved year-on-year across the decade, with more than 90% of Africa’s population living in a country where progress has been made since 2012. As to Foundations for Economic Opportunity, the level reached in 2021 is higher than in 2012, and this is the only category to have even continued to make progress since 2019, despite the seismic shocks of the pandemic, mostly due to considerable improvements in the Infrastructure sub-category.

The 2022 IIAG Report also provides insights into key remaining data gaps on governance priorities in Africa, such as employment, health, rural areas, and climate challenges, for example, the Health sub-category is still unable to include data on health structures and capacities – a critical element of the continent’s response to any pandemic- due to a lack of data. Data is essential for effective policymaking and strengthening data production and uptake in Africa remains a priority of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

In sum, the 2022 IIAG shows that governance progress is being hindered by diverging trajectories, as progress in Human Development and Foundations for Economic Opportunity is offset by a deterioration in both Security & Rule of Law and Participation, Rights & Inclusion, holding back Overall Governance. Unless sustained good governance is prioritised, decades of progress, and Africa’s ability to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063, will be under threat.

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EACOP receives license to construct crude oil pipeline

By
Simon Kabayo
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The East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) was on Tuesday handed a license to construct a 1,443km East African oil pipeline

The license was handed over by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Ruth Nankabirwa to Martin Tiffen, EACOP Ltd Managing Director.

The construction license is required to enable EACOP to officially start on the ground construction activities in Uganda as part of the development of the 1,443km, 24-inch diameter insulated and buried crude oil pipeline that will start from Kabaale, Hoima in Uganda to Chongoleani, Tanga in Tanzania.

Tiffen described the handover as another milestone in Uganda’s oil journey, saying, “This marks another step forward for EACOP as it allows the commencement of our construction activities in Uganda upon completion of the ongoing land access process.”

“We are grateful to the government of Uganda for the expedited delivery of the application as per the commitment in the Host Government Agreement (HGA) and the continuous support for implementation of the EACOP project,” he added.

Tiffen sais they are committed to preserving biodiversity and the environment, as well as the rights of the communities in which they operate.

“EACOP will meet all national laws and regulations including the stipulations in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), and observe international best practice in the form of the IFC Performance standards,” he said.

The license was granted by the Ministry, following the application submitted on 1st July 2022, in compliance and accordance with Section 10 of the Petroleum ( Refining, Conversion, Transmission, and Midstream Storage) Act 2013, Regulation 59 of the Petroleum (Refining, Conversion, Transmission, and Midstream Storage) Act 2016, and the East African Crude Oil Pipeline Special Provisions Act 2021 and found satisfactory.

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DRC condemns Rwanda attack on its fighter jet, says it will not be threatened

By
Our Reporter
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The Congolese fighter jet that was attacked by the Rwandan army

The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has strongly condemned the attack by the Rwandan army on its fighter plane in Congolese airspace, saying it will not be threatened.

“The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo strongly condemns and denounces the attack on one of its Sukhoi-25 aircraft by the Rwandan army on 24 January 2023 at around 17.00 in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province,” the government said in a statement.

This fighter jet was attacked as it was landing on the runway of Goma lnternational Airport.

DRC says the Rwandan shooting was directed at a Congolese aircraft flying inside Congolese territory. “In no circumstances did it fly over Rwandan airspace. The plane landed without major material damage.”

Tension between the two countries has escalated since fighting resumed between M23 rebels and DRC government troops in North Kivu.

The DRC accuses Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, while Rwanda denies the charge.

“This attack compounds that of the offensive launched this morning by the Rwandan army towards Kitchanga and immediately repelled by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Congo (FARDC). Meanwhile, columns of Rwandan army soldiers have been observed entering from Rwanda to reinforce positions in Kibumba and Bvito, in preparation for other criminal actions,” the statement adds.

The Congolese government considers this umpteenth attack by Rwanda as a deliberate act of aggression which amounts to an act of war, with the sole aim of sabotaging the ongoing efforts to implement the actions agreed upon in the framework of the Luanda and Nairobi processes for the restoration of peace in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo and in the Great Lakes region.

“Finally, despite being engaged in the various peace processes mentioned above, the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo rescues the right to defend its national territory and will not be threatened,” the government said.

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